Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-02-25


fedcrate stations. Henry was captured Feb.
6, 1862 A rising young brieadier general,
named Ulysses >. Grant, was at the head of
She force that took it, Tho victory called for
cho first time the attention of tho country to
This officer. The victory at Fort Henry, too,
was, strictly speaking, the beginning of tho
tnrning of the tide in favor of tho north A
gloom like the fog of winters day had been
on the country till then Mon in the north
were signing for hero-a man who should
Toe strong enough to take tho head of affairs
and turn heart sichening failure into victory.
The hero was developing. though they
knew it not. lie who was TO lift tho cloud
was the silent man that, oven in the midst of
the victory of Fort Donelson. was "too busy
20 write a word
A notable point is the shoitness Of Grants
dispatches at all times. A few messages, of
not many lines, to his superior officer tell the
story of both Henry and DoncIson Cen.
Halleck, then ut St Louis. was in command
Of the department Of the Missouri. Grant
dispatched Halleck Feb 6, that Fort Henry
mad fallen He added these words:
II shall take and destroy Fort Donclson on
the 9Th and return to Fort Henry"
But he had undertaken larger contract
&han even he could ill III tho limo Inc pro
posed. The freshcts and ovorilows which al
ways worl; such mischief in tho south and
west, prevented. for ono thing. The roads
leading TO Donolson were a sea Of mud BY
the backwater of creeks on each side Of the
fort there was sea of Uator two miles in
land from the iC4t.
The Cumberland runs north ct the point
selected for Fort Donelson About a mile
south of the fort, up tho river, il tho little
town Of Dover This hamlet was the head
quarters of the Confederate general Gideon
J. Pillow, during the siege. ~ was in Dover
that the lost Confederate council CT war be-
tween Gems. Floyd, Pillow. Bucisncr, Col. N.
r. Forrest and others took place, previous to
the surrender Of the fort TO Grant Below
Fort Donelson on the north. Hickman's
creek cnptiel into the Cumberland. 1t was
overlooked for miles, tho water up to n
horse, breast Grant could MOI attack the
fort from that side. On tlo other hand,
however, in case the Confederates, being hard
pressed, wished to make a sally out from the
fort and escape 10y the Fort Henry road, as,
in fact they did wish to do, this overflowed
creek would prevent them. So, on the whole,
che backwater Of IIickmans creek was an ad-
vantage to both besiegcr and besieGed. Above
Fort DouclsOu, and between that and Dover,
was another stream Of water, Indian creek,
also overnowed
Mud! There was never anything like it.
1t was "hllf leg deep as specially mentioned
IN Confederate official dispatches Grants sol
diers fairly wadcd in mud sup TO their eyes"
when thoy marched from Fort Horny to he
siege Dover and Donclson. IL few from the
horses hoofs like rain and peppered man and
beast, when the cavalry splashed hithor and
1hther, in the vain fancy that they were
&rotting. 1t rolled from the gun carriage
wheels and fell in huge masses at every turn
,lhe artillery made
1t must he remembered that II was Grant,
Drigadier general, who had urged tho reduc-
mon OF Forts Henry and Donclson. The OBJ
ject to be gained 10y it was the clearing of the
Cumberland and Tennessee rivers, and the
occupation Of Tennessee and its lines of rail
way. Grant was at Cairo and repeatedly
urged IIalleck TO let him visit st Louis.
Leave was at length given. Grant visited
his superior and began to unfold his plan for
Ghe capture Of the two forts. But Hallcck
silenced him at once and s'uhbed him
sharply
Judge Force, in his book. says that Grant
returned to Cairo believing his commander
Thought him guilty Of proposing military
olundcr.' And yet he persisted Emporium
ing again and again Flag Officer Andrew
H. Foote, Of the Mississippi squadron, urged
the same, and begged lIallecl,'s permission tC
let him and Grant move on Henry and Don
olson. It was at length given, and Feb
Footo and Grant. infantry and cavalry forces
united, started mp the Tennessee TO Fort
Henry with 1900 men and seven gun
boats
Fort Henry foll on tho 9th. The Sunday
after Commander Foote took his place in thu
pulpit Of the Presbyterian church at Cairo
and preached an eloquent sermon on tho text